Contactless touch interaction using thermal image camera for fingerless and handless users

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a contactless touch interface using thermal imaging camera is, for users who are not capable of using their fingers and hands. In this way, an interaction where a user does not need to directly touch with his/her finger is made possible. For the interaction method, user's breath touches the surface of a screen, transmitting the heat to the surface; then the thermal residue is detected as a touched spot, enabling to operate in the same way which touch by finger works. The proposed method is highly useful in the sense that many users who cannot use their fingers and hands can interact under a system that is quasi-identical to normal touch system, along with the sense that it can enlarge available ranges of touch interface.